Poland's envoy concerned by attacks on Polish families in east Belfast

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/may/05/poland-envoy-concerned-attacks-belfast

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Poland's diplomatic representative to Northern Ireland has expressed concern over a spike in xenophobic attacks on Polish families in Belfast.

The Polish consul is to hold talks with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on Tuesday over the rise in assaults and hate crimes directed at the Polish population in the city. Three homes where Polish families lived were attacked in east Belfast over the weekend with windows smashed and graffiti sprayed on hoardings with the words "locals only".

The PSNI has blamed the Ulster Volunteer Force for orchestrating the attacks which have also been directed at Africans and Romanians in recent months.

According to police figures, there has been a 40% in increase in race and hate crimes in the region but mainly focused on greater Belfast.

The PSNI has set up Operation Orion, a new police unit to target those behind hate crimes.

Jerome Mullan, the Polish consul, condemned those responsible for the attacks. "The families are frightened and they don't understand why this has happened to them. I'm concerned about where we are going and we have to get it stopped," he said.

"It is very sad when you have these continued attacks taking place, they've been going on for far too long now."

Polish community worker Eva Grossman said: "Yet again, Northern Ireland is gaining the reputation as the hate crime capital of Europe."